Release for motion-picture camera mechanism



Sept. 1, 1953 ml. MURRAY RELEASE FOR MOTION-PICTURE CAMERA MECHANISMFiled NOV. 30, 1950 IFIE llll nfllllf/l'll'" INVENTOR. AHA MURRAY Ahf s.

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES OFFICE.

RELEASE FOR MOTION PICTURE' CAMERA MECHANISM Atl'a I. Murray, Dayton,Ky.

Application November 30, 1950, Serial No. 198,450

lClaim. 1.

This invention relates to a control device for a motion picture camera.

An object of this inventionis to-provide a fluid pressure operatedrelease for the mechanism of the motion picture camera.

A further object of this invention is to provide a motion picture camerahaving both a manual and a fluid operated release.

A further object of this invention is to provide a motion picture cameraof this type having a lock for the manual release which locks the cameramechanism in released position.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will in partbe apparent and will in part be obvious from the following detailed 3description, and the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a motion picture camera having acontrol device and release constructed in accordance with an embodimentof this invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in side elevation, showing therelease mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along a line IIIIII in Figs. 1 and 2;and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section taken along a line IVIV in Fig.3.

In the following detailed description, and the drawing, like referencecharacters indicate like parts.

In Fig. 1, a motion picture camera I is shown which has controlsembodying this invention. The camera includes a conventional filmadvancing mechanism and shutter, not shown in detail. A shaft l2 (Fig.3) is in the driving mechanism of the camera and may be connected to thefilm advancing mechanism and shutter by appropriate gear chains, notshown.

Shaft l2 carries a ratchet wheel 13 (Figs. 2 and 3) which turns withshaft l2. When ratchet wheel [3 and shaft 12 are arrested the mechanismof the camera is stopped. The ratchet wheel may be arrested by a hookI4, which is at the upper end of a pivotally mounted lever l 5. The hookis adapted to engage and arrest the ratchet to stop the cameramechanism. Lever I5 is pivotally mounted on a stationary shaft l6. Shaft16 extends between and is attached to spaced plates I! and [8 which formsupports for the camera mechanism. A coil spring [9 wound on shaft l6urges the hook into engagement with the ratchet so that the mechanism ofthe camera is normally stopped except when the hook is swung away fromthe ratchet against the force of spring l9.

Hook [4 and lever I5, which carries the hook,

can be swung back manually by means." of abut;- ton 21. Button 2i is onthe outside of thacasing 22 of the camera. Button 2| is mounted: on astem 23 which extends through a slot 24 in the casing. The stem isconnected to the lower end of the lever by a link 26 so that when thebutton is pushed toward the back of the camera, the hook is swung out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel to release the camera mechanism. Slot24 is of L-shape, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the camera releasingmechanism can be locked in released position by advancing the buttonthrough an angular path to set the stem in a vertical portion 2! of theslot, as indicated in dot-dash lines at 23a in Fig. 4.

The hook can also be swung out of engagement with the ratchet by meansof a fluid pressure operated plunger 28. As shown in Fig. 2, the plungerengages the lower end of lever 15, and, when the plunger is driven tothe left as shown in Fig. 2, lever I5 is swung clockwise to release theratchet wheel. Plunger 28 is attached to a piston 29 which reciprocatesinside a cylinder 3|. Cylinder 31 is attached to the casing of thecamera opposite the lower end of lever l5 by means of a threaded sleeve32 at one end of the cylinder. Sleeve 32 surrounds the plunger, so thatthe plunger reciprocates inside the sleeve.

The piston head end of cylinder 3| is connected to an end of a flexibletube 33. Tube 33 carries a collapsible bulb 34 having a check valve 35at its outer end. When bulb 34 is squeezed, air pressure is appliedthrough tube 33 to the piston head end of the cylinder to drive thepiston and plunger to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, and release thecamera stopping mechanism. The portion of tube 33 adjacent cylinder 3|is surrounded by a coil spring 36 which protects the end of the rubbertube and prevents excessive bending thereof.

The rubber tube and aspirator bulb may readily be removed from thecamera when not required by slipping the end of the rubber tube off ametal tube 31 which is integral with the cylinder and communicates withthe piston head end of the cylinder. When the cylinder is in place, thecamera can be operated from a distance by pressure on the aspiratorbulb, and if desired, the camera can be set up on a tripod and theoperator may get in the field of the camera before pressing the bulb sothat the operator can take a picture of himself.

The camera control device illustrated in the drawing and described aboveis subject to structural modification without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

A control device for a motion picture camera which comprises a ratchetwheel for controlling the camera mechanism, a pivotally mounted hookengageable with the ratchet wheel to stop the mechanism, a hollow,cylindrical housing open at both ends, said housing having on the insidethereof a flange at one end thereof, a lug integral with said flange andprojecting axially therefrom, means for attaching said cylinder to thecamera with the lug projecting through the casing of the camera, saidlug and said flange having an axial opening therethrough, a piston insaid cylinder, a plunger carried by said piston and projecting throughthe opening in the lug and flange into engagement with the hook, a plugclosing the other end of said cylinder, said plug having an openingtherethrough, a fluid pressure tube attached to said plug incommunication with the opening therein, and means for applying fluidpressure to said tube to cause the piston to advance toward the lug endof the cylinder and drive the plunger therethrough, whereby the hook isswung out of engagement with the ratchet wheel when fluid pressure isapplied to the tube to cause release of the ratchet wheel.

ATLA I. MURRAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,354,999 Pieri Oct. 5, 1920 1,752,503 Partlow Apr. 1, 19301,866,588 Warren July 12, 1932 1,973,937 Tracy Sept. 18, 1934 2,203,626Grant, Jr June 4, 1940 2,229,816 Nicastro Jan. 28, 1941 2,295,853 LevySept. 15, 1942 2,402,343 Price June 18, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 115,545 Switzerland July 1, 1926

